Charges against Jeremy Gene Taylor, 30, of Swainsboro, Ga., have been upgraded from aggravated assault to murder in the death of Earl Alphonzo Bolar, 48, of Waynesboro, Ga.

Both men were arrested Aug. 3. Bolar was charged with disorderly conduct after he was found naked in an abandoned building at 11th Street and Laney-Walker Boulevard, according to a news release.

Taylor was taken to the jail after assaulting a man at a halfway house for substance abusers in the 400 block of Walker Street, the release states.

The men were in a holding cell when Taylor launched an “unprovoked” attack with his hands and feet on Bolar, who was asleep on the floor, investigators say.

Sheriff Ronnie Strength said there were four other people in the holding cell when it occurred and that they stood back during the attack. Afterward, they banged on the door to alert deputies, Strength said.

Strength said there was nothing that deputies could have done to prevent the attack because it occurred within a matter of seconds.

“The guy never hollered; there was never a struggle,” the sheriff said. “It was several punches and a kick to the head.”

Bolar was immediately taken to the emergency room at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, where he was treated for severe head injuries, investigators say.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Who was on the cameras to make sure that things didn't get out of hand in the holding cell? They always have at least 2 cameras on those in holding to prevent suicides, etc. Many homeless people do suffer from mental illness and there is absolutely no help for them out there. To be attacked in his sleep. That just aint right! The attacker is most likely mentally ill as well.

One of the saddest stories to hit the local news. ImPOed is right, there is absolutely no help for them out there.
It would seem to me that religious organizations, who can afford to build lush fortresses for their own enjoyment (or to glorify God. I think that 's the rationale.), maybe could also walk the walk of Christianity and other religious faiths and lend more of a hand to locals who are on the skids. And, I realize that religious organizations should not need to bear the burden alone. But a death sentence for being naked in an abandoned building is too much.

There is nothing to suggest that either man was mentally ill, and it's inappropriate to think that they are.

AC, 8/26/04- Earl Alphonzo Bolar, also known as Earl A. Bolar, also known as Earl Alfonso Bolar, also known as Al Richard Reed, also known as Paul Smith, also known as Raymond Earl Smith, also known as Ruben Smith, also known as Earl Alphonzo Stokey, also known as Robert Earl Williams, also known as Earl Alfonso Wright, 41, convicted March 28, 2003, in Richmond County of theft by shoplifting; sentenced to five years in prison, to run concurrently with a 15-year prison sentence handed down June 15, 1993, for a Richmond County conviction of burglary, which was running concurrently with an eight-year prison sentence handed down Oct. 14, 1988, for a Richmond County conviction of theft by shoplifting and misdemeanor counts of battery, obscene and vulgar language and giving a false name; paroled to Burke County effective Aug. 19

corgimom, for someone who is so informed, you should know that many of the homeless are mentally ill. Many of them were just emptied out into the streets when the government run mental health facilities were closed. Also, I would consider anyone hanging out in a property they didn't own or lease IN THE NUDE to be a little less than stable, but, maybe that's normal behavior to you.

Ok, I won't even get into the other comments, but I have to ask, 4 other people were in the holding cell and did nothing, really?? It had to be 4 men, and not one of them did anything? I am amazed, I mean 4 men could have easily held off one, he was in jail, so it's not like he had a gun or something.

augusta citizen, my first thoughts as well. At first, I considered that they may have been fearful, but they did call out to the deputy when it was finished. Then again, maybe they were fearful, that one of them would be next. I'm with you though, they should have helped this poor fellow.

ok....ac and willow... the news article (if it is accurate) indicates that this was an unprovoked attack (very apparently) and happened in blitz sort of way. It's the same as all these folks saying that they are armed and everyone should be because theywill be safe. The human brain is not geared to process and react that quickly to unexpected phenomenon. Police officers are trained to anticipate the unexpected and they are better but not perfect in doing so..don't blame some common citizens in a lock-up. In any case, Mr. Bolar did not deserve to die in this way no matter what petty crimes he has been arrested for. And, Corgimom, you should be ashamed of yourself.

I'm not blaming them doug, just thinking about what could have happened differently. I really didn't think of it as a blitz like you say, but that does make more sense, that it was quick and they were all stunned and my thoughts were they were just fearful. Whatever happened, I do feel great compassion for him.

I happen to have more info on this story. A close, close friend of mine is one of the managers at the halfway house where the first incident (in the article above) took place. Originally, jeremy taylor came to the halfway house from swainsboro, ga where he assaulted a man and served some time for that. How much time I am not exactly sure. When he arrived to the halfway house, it was obvious that he is a troubled individual. On august 3rd, jeremy punched another house resident and completely knocked him out with one punch. The attack was completely sudden and out of no where. There was no confrontation at all. As a matter of fact the man was texting someone when he was assaulted. Jeremy then made the comment to another resident that he needed to go back to jail because he has some issues that he cant get over or get past. When the police came to arrest him he calmly put his hands behind his back and gladly went. It really saddens me to hear that this man died because of the beating he took from this jeremy taylor. He did confide in one of the resident managers as to why he is the way he is. Its a sad, terrible thing that happened to him as a child. But, in my opinion, that is no excuse for what he has done. And, for the record, if Jeremy was under the influence at the time of the august 3rd halfway house assault, the management was not aware of it.

Willow says:"corgimom, for someone who is so informed, you should know that many of the homeless are mentally ill. Many of them were just emptied out into the streets when the government run mental health facilities were closed."

That was done on my man Ronald Reagan's watch. One of his very few bad calls IMO.